Machine for positioning string handles on bags



Dec. 3, 1940.

C. G. EATON ET Al.

MACHINE FOR PSITIONING STRING HANDLES ON BAGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17. 1951 a of 015: I

iZo ney'.

Dec. 3, 1940. g, EATON AL 2,224,040

MACHINE FOR POSITIONING STRING HANISLES on BAGS Filed June 17 193'! 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 W I cum 0.1

Hiiornq .5.

Dec. 3, 1940. 6, EATON ET AL 2,224,040

MACHINE FOR POSITIONING s'rnme nmnm-ss on mes Filed June 17, 19s"! 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. '3, 1940.

c. G. EATON ETAL MACHINE FOR POSITIONING S'I RING HANDLES ID)! BAGS Filed June 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III I; 3 I M m L a 4 Mk F 5 I 4 n 1 w 6 4 J J w 1 E1 a 7;: T n l 7 O a 4 a 1 Ti 0 4) J rm rfl M E u 5 7m 6 o 6/ 4 PM U 4: "M7 7. 5 hlur 4 4 AM 1 2 l1 i w "i a a? W? Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR POSITIONING STRDTG HANDLES ON BAGS Application June 17, 1937, Serial No. 148,704

7 Claims.

This'invention relates to the manufacture of bags and more particularly to mechanism for placing a desired length of string in position upon a bag to be secured to the latter and serve as a handle.

A mechanism of that general character is described in the United States patent to Carleton G. Eaton, No. 1,762,857, dated June 10, 1930. The present invention is 'directed to improvements in mechanism of this type which make possible a reduction in the time required for securing string handles upon bags.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction "with the accompanying drawings: in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the same;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail plan views of a portion of the machine showing the relationship of the parts at different stages of the operation of i the machine;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional elevational views of the portion of the machine shown in Figs. 4, 5

and 6;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional detail elevational views of different portions of the machine; and.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a bag having handles secured to the open end thereof by the mechanism embodying the invention.

Before explaining in detail the present inven- 5' tion, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed 45 herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In general, a machine embodying the invention comprises a stapling mechanism S (Figs. 1 and 3) adapted to secure string handles H upon a bag B, such as a paper shopping bag (Fig. 12). A mechanism P (Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive) is provided for positioning the string handle H with respect to the bag B. String is supplied to the positioning mechanism P from a supply roll R (Fig. 2) from which it is withdrawn by a mechanism W (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and fed intermittent- 1y by a mechanism F (Fig. 1) to the positioning mechanism P. After being fed to the positioning mechanism P the string is cut to the desired length of the handle H by a cutting mechanism C (Figs. 1 and 10).

Any suitable stapling mechanism may be employed in the practice of the invention, the specific construction being unimportant and forming no part of the present invention. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings the stapling mechanism S is carried by a frame I0 (Figs. 1 and 3) having a forwardly extending portion I i at its upper end. Depending from the forward end of the frame portion II is a fastener forming and applying mechanism 12 adapted to place four fasteners I3 in a bag B to secure a string handle H thereto as illustrated in Fig. 12. The mechanism [2 is actuated by power sup plied from a shaft l6 which is rotatably mounted in bearings in the frame portion H. Power is supplied to rotate the shaft M5 by a belt ll engaging a pulley l8 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft l6 and adapted to be connected in driving relation thereto by a clutch l9 rendered operative by a rod 20 which is connected to an operating treadle (not shown). Below the frame portion H a pair of spaced frame members 25 extend forwardly from the frame HI and are connected at their forward ends by a platform 26 positioned beneath the mechanism [2. The platform 26 is provided with a pair of spaced clinching blocks 27 adapted to cooperate with the mechanism l2 for applying fasteners to the bag. The platform 26 also is provided with a pair of stops 28 for positioning a bag with respect to the mechanism 12. 1

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the positioning mechanism P may comprise guideways 30 (Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive) at opposite edges of the platform 26 so as to slidably guide a slide 3i forward and rearward. The rear end of the slide 3| is connected to one end of a rod 32 the other end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a bell crank lever 33 pivotally carried upon a bracket 34 fixed upon the frame Ill. The other end of the bell crank lever 33 is provided with a cam follower 35 adapted to engage a cam groove 36 formed in a disc 31 fixed uponthe shaft [6.

A pair of spaced bars 40 are slidably mounted in grooves formed in the surface of the slide 3|. The forward ends of the bars 40 are turned downward to provide cam surfaces 4| for a purpose described hereinafter. Adjacent the cam surfaces ll and immediately rearward thereof the bars Ml are connected by a string support 42 which extends laterally beyond the opposite edges of the platform 26. Immediately in the rear of the string support 42, the bars 4|! are connected by a cross member 44 extending upwardly beyond the top surface of the support 42. Secured to the member 44 and extending forwardly therefrom over the supportJlZ andinspaced relation to the latter are a pair of spaced fingers 45. A

U-shaped member 46 is suitably secured to the slide 3| in a position so that its spaced parallel portions 41 may be moved past the'ends of the member 4 3. A friction block 50 extends between and rests upon the bars 40. The friction block 50 is secured upon the slide 3| .by screws5| passing through holes in the block 50 andengaging the slide 3|. A spring 52 surrounds each screw 5| with one end engaging a washer 53, the upper position of which is limited by the head of the screw.

A templet 55 is. pivotally mounted at its for ward end upon the platform 26 and is adapted to move into and out offits operative position in a plane lying in the path of movement of the presser member 4 3 and 'U-shaped member 46; A rod 56 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the templet 55 and extends downwardly through a passage 51in the platform 26. The rod 551s urged axially downward by a spring 58 surrounding'the same and with one end engaging the bottom of the platform 26 and its other end engaging a washer 59' held upon the lower end of the'rod '58. The downward movement of the rod 55 causes the templet 55 to pivot out of its operative position to a position limited by engagement'between the top surface of the platform 26 and a collarfifl fixed upon the rod 56.

A pair of stops 65 are fixed upon a cross memb'er'iifi connecting the spaced, frame members 25; v The stops 65" are positioned in the path of movement of the bars M)" and limit the rearward'position thereof and'the position of the string support 4Z'when the slide 3| is moved rearward-p A'string guide 68 extendsbetween and is slidably'mounted in spaced guideways 69 andis adapted to rest upon the string support 42 when-the latter is in its rearward position as illustrated'in'Fig. 4." The string guide 68 is provided with .agroove Miadjacent. the support 42 andatits *right-handendj'as viewed in Fig. 4, the groove i4 is enlarged'to provide a string entrance passage- An arm 10 is pivotally mounted at its rear end uponv each of the spaced frame 'members 25 J'and-is provided. at its forward end with a tongue ll adapted to engage a slot 12 formedin the string guide 68. Each of the arms 1|] is provided with a cam surface 13 adapted-to be engaged ,by a cam 14 carried by the slide 3| to pivot the arms Ti] 'and raise the string guide 68' out 'of engagement with the string support '42'as shown in Fig. 8.

The roll R of string is carried by a spool '75 which is mountedfor rotation in spaced arms 16 depending from a frame structure 71 extending laterally from the main frame In. The string T is' drawn from the rollR and travels around a pulley "l8 rotatably carried at one end of an arm 19 the .other end of which is pivotally mounted upon the end .of the long'arm of a lever. 85. The lever 80*is' pivotally mounted upon a bracket 8| fixed to a suitable support I5, such asthe-fioor" of a building; The short :arm

of the le'ver 89 carries a brake 82 adapted to.

engage the spoo1-l5-to resist rotation-thereof. The weight of the long arm of the lever Bll tends to swing the lever so as to bring the brake 82 into engagement with the spool 15. If desired, the long arm of the lever may be weighted in order to bring about this desired result.

The mechanism W is actuated by a shaft 85 which is rotatably supported near one end in a bearing formed in a fitting 86' secured upon the frame ll. The shaft 85 is rotatably supported near its other end in the upper bearing provided by a fitting 88 secured upon the frame all. A gear 90' is fixed upon the rear end of the shaft 85' and is adapted to engage a sector gear 9| fixed upon a shaft 92 rotatably supported in the lower bearing of the fitting 88. The shaft Slalso. carries asprocket 93 driven through a chainfid froma sprocket 95 fixed upon the rear end of the shaft IS;

A pulley 96 is fixed upon the shaft 85 and is provided with a V-shaped groove 97 adapted to receive a. single convolution of the string T. From the pulley 95 the string T extends through a guide 98"fixed upon. the frame 'l'land thence passes arounda pulley 99 carried at 'theuppe'r end Of a weight iiiilwhich is slidably carried in a guide lEiI' fixed upon the support l5. The weight I5!) is provided within a pin I02 adapted to engage'a slot I83 in the guide HH and thus is prevented from turning in the guide. From the pulley 99*the-string T'extends into the intermittent feeding mechanism F."

The mechanism F comprises a tubelllfvjcarried by a frame structure HIB'secured 'upon, the fitting 86. The tube meisxprovided with .longi tudinally extending diametrically opposite slots IM'and HQ and is positionedin ali'nement and.

adjacent to the'string'guide E58'when the. latter is resting upon the stringsuppprtgfl of the positioning mechanism P. The string T" extends from the pulley SSH-through a string guide NH and thence through a string straighteningdevice-W8; both of the latter being carried by the frame-"m6: After passing through the. string.

straightening device 158; the string extends into the tube I05:-

A sleeve surrounds and is slidably mounted upon the tube I55 and 'is adapted to be reciprocated upon the latter: sleeve H projects through the slot Hi l intothe tube I835: The inner edge of the plate. Hill is provided with teeth |5| projecting in the direction of feed of the string T and adapted to engage the-latter; One end'of an1arm is'provided with ayoke 93 which" is suitably connected to the sleeve it. The other. end of :the arm is pivotally mounted upon'a .stud H2 (Fig. ,3) carried by thefitting 85; Intermediate its ends the arm is provided-with-a longitudinally.

the slot H8 'inthe sleeve Hi1? and through, asslot.

H9 in the tube Iii-5." The end of the. arm H! is provided with teeth I25 I projecting. toward. and in the direction;:of feed ,ofthe. string T. The other arm..|2|" of the bell crank M vcarries. a. roller |22 :adapted to-engage either-the upper. or lower surface of aguide rail |23.carried.by. brackets li ixfixed .upon the, frame .Hlii...v Another. arm I SB'eXtendsfrom the.hub.;of. the bell -crank A75 H6. and is connected at its outer'end to oneiend of aspring I3I the other end of which is connected to a post I32 fixed upon the. sleeve III). The spring I3I tends to rotate the bell crank H6 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 11 thereby tending to urge the teeth I20 in engagement with the string T, and hold the latter in engagement with the teeth I6I on the plate I which is fixed on the sleeve III]. The left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 1 of the guide rail I23 is provided with a downwardly inclined portion I35. Spaced from the other end of the guide rail I23 is a guide rail extension I23 carried by a bracket I36 fixed upon the frame I06. The extension I23 is provided with a downwardly inclined portion 81.

Movement of the string T in the tube I05 to the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 11 is prevented by the engagement of teeth I31 formed upon the end of one arm of a bell crank I38 which is pivotally carried upon an ear extending upwardly ,from a sleeve I39 fixed upon the tube I05, preferably, between the guide rail I23 and the cutting mechanism C. The other arm of the bell crank I38 carries a weight I40 tending to rotate the bell crank in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 9 and urge the teeth I3'I in engagement with the string T.

The cutting mechanism C (Figs 1 and 10) comprises a cutting blade I45 slidably mounted in a guideway I46 carried by and depending from a block or sleeve I41 secured upon the end of the tube I05 adjacent the thread guide 68 so that the end of the tube I05 may cooperate with the blade I45 to cut the string T. A bell crank I48 is pivotally mounted on a bracket I49 secured to the guideway I46. The short arm I50 of the bell crank I48 is pivotally secured to a block i5| fixed upon the blade I45. The long arm I52 of the bell crank I48 is pivotally connected to one end of a rod I53 which extends'substantially parallel to the tube I05 and. is connected at its other end to an ear I54 formed on a'sleeve I55 which surrounds and is slidably mounted upon the tube I05. A coil spring I56 surrounds the tube I05 with one end engaging an edge of the sleeve I55 and its other end engaging a portion of the frame I06.

In the operation of the machine the operator positions a bag B with its open end receiving a portion of the platform 26 and with the edge of the bag engaging the stops 28 as illustrated in Fig. 4. If desired a stop (not shown) may be provided for locating the position of the bag laterally with respect to the stapling mechanism S, but this is not necessary inasmuch as the bag may be positioned with sufficient accuracy in this respect by an experienced operator. The operator then steps on the trea-dle to operate the clutch I9 to supply power to rotate the shafts I6 and 85. During the rotation of the shaft I6, the cam groove 36 in the cam disk 31 actuates the bell crank 33 (Fig. 3) to move the rod 32 and reciprocate the slide 3| between the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 6. When the slide 3| is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7 the string guide 68 rests upon the thread support 42 and its groove I4 is in alinement with the passage in the tube I05.

The operation of the mechanism is so timed that when the slide 3| is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the arm I I I is actuated to cause the sleeve I I0 to move to the left as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 11. In so doing the roller I22 moves down the incline 81 and engages the bottom of the rail I23 to cause the teeth I26 to engage the string T and hold the latter in engagement with the teeth I6I whereby the string is fed axially in the tube I05 and caused to enter the groove I4 on the bottom of the stringguide 68 and rest upon the string support 42. During the movement of the sleeve I III in this direction the spring I3I urges the bell crank I I6 counterclockwise to insure positive engagement between the teeth I04 and I20 and the string T. As the string is thus moved it slides beneath the teeth I31 formed upon one arm of the bell crank I38. However, the teeth I3I are directed so as to grip the string if it tends to move in the opposite direction. that is, toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 11.

As the sleeve IIO moves in the opposite direction, that is, to the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, the roller I22 carried by the bell crank II6 engages the inclined end portion I35 of the guide I23 and is caused to move along the top surface of the latter and maintain the teeth I20 out of engagement with the string. As the roller I 22 drops off the end of the rail I23 it strikes the incline 81 and is caused to move along the top surface of the rail I23 to maintain the teeth I20 out of engagement with the string. As the movement of the sleeve III) is continued in'this direction it strikes the sleeve I55 causing the latter to move to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 against the action of the spring I56. This movement of the sleeve I55 moves the rod I53 to actuate the bell crank I48 and move theknife blade I45 upwardly to cut the string T thus leaving upon the thread support I42 a predetermined length of string H.

As the sleeve IIO moves in the opposite direc tion, that is, to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, it moves out of engagement with the sleeve I55 and the spring I56 returns the sleeve I55 to its original position and thus restores the cutting mechanism to its original or inoperative position. During this movement of the sleeve H0 and after the sleeve I55 is returned to its original position the roller I22 is urged downwardly along the inclined portion '81 of the guide extension I23 and is permitted to move under the guide rail I23 thereby permitting the spring I3I to urge the teeth I20 toward the teeth I6I and positively grip the string T therebetween. This insures that the string T is fed the same distance during each of the intermittent feeding operations.

As the string T is fed through the tube I05 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1 and as above described, it takes up the slack in the portion engaged by the pulley 98 and causes the latter together with the weight I00 to be raised. At the same time the slack in the portion of the string T engaged by the pulley I8 is taken up. This action brings the string into driving relation with the pulley 96 and causes the latter to move the string first to pivot the lever 80 and. move the brake 82 out of engagement with the spool I5 and then to withdraw string from the roll R. The withdrawal of string from the roll R continues until the feeding of the string through the tube I05 ceases and until the weight I00 and lever 80 have-returned to their original positions to provide slack portions of string between the feeding mechanism F and mechanism W and between the mechanism W and the roll R.

After the string has been fed upon the string support 42 and under the string guide 68 and has been severed by the cutting mechanism C to provide a length of string H resting upon the string support 42 as above described, the slide 3| is still in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The slide 3| now begins to move forward toward the position shown in Fig. 5. During this forward movement of the slide 31, the earns 14 engage the cam surfaces i3 upon the levers Hi to cause the latter to lift the string guide 68 from the position shown in. Fig. '7 tov that shown in Fig. 8. Thereafter, the forward movement of the slide 3| continues and the cam surfaces 41 engage. the rear edge of the templet 55 to move the latter into the path of movement of the presser member 44. Then the string H is pressed in engagement with the rear edge of the templet 55 by the member 44.

It will be understood that the fingers 4E5 extend into the string guide 68 above the string and prevent the latter from being removed from the string support 42 as the string guide 68 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8. As the slide 3| continues its forward movement the normal tendency is for the member 44 to rest against the back edge of the templet 55. However, the friction block tends to cause the member 44 to move forward with the slide 3| and, consequently, the member 45 exerts a substantial pressure holding the string against the templet. As the forward movement of the slide continues the spaced parallel portions 4? of the U-shaped member 46 engage the ends of the string section H and move them into engagement with the parallel sides of the templet 55 and with the ends of the string H overlapping the edge of the bag as shown in Fig. 6. The stapling mechanism S is then actuated to: apply the staples [3 to secure the handle H to the bag.

Thereafter, the slide 3! moves rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 4. As the slide 3| approaches the position shown in Fig. 4 the ends of the bars 4|D are brought into engagement with the stops 65 which limits the rearward position of the string support 42. The slide 3| then moves rearwardly relative to the bars 4!! and the cams 14 are moved out of engagement with the cam surfaces 73 upon the lever 10, thereby permitting the string guide 68 to be returned from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that in Fig. 7 upon the string support 42. As the slide 3! moves rearward, the string support 42- and the cam surfaces 4| move away from the templet 55 and permit the latter to move from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. '7. This movement of the templet facilitates removal of the handle H therefrom after the handle has been secured to the bag. It will be understood, however, that the construction may be such that the templet will remain at all times in its operative position as shown in Fig. 8. The machine is now in condition to repeat the cycle of operations above described.

We claim:

1. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a templet, a movable string guide adapted to position string adjacent said templet and in the plane thereof, means for feeding string to said guide, and means for moving said guide out of said plane and for moving said string in engagement with said templet.

2. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a templet, a movable string guide adapted to position string adjacent said templet and in the plane thereof, means for feeding string to said guide, means for moving saidguide out of said plane and for moving said string in engagement with said templet, and means for maintaining said string in said plane as and when said guide is moved out of said plane.

3. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a templet, a slide movable toward and away from said templet, a string holder slidably mounted upon said slide, means for supplying a desired length of string upon said holder, said slide and string holder being adapted to cooperate to position the length of string in desired relation to said templet, means tending to resist movement of said holder relative to said slide, and a stop for positioning said string holder in desired relation to said supplying means as said slide is moved to its position away from said templet.

4. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a templet, a slide movable toward and away from said templet, a string holder slidably mounted upon said slide, means tending to resist movement of said holder relative to said slide, a movable string guide adapted to position a length of string upon said string holder, a stop for positioning said string holder in predetermined position as said slide is moved to its position away from said templet, means for feeding string tosaid guide, and means for moving said guide away from said string holder, said slide and string holder being adapted to cooperate to position a length of string in desired relation to said templet.

5. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a templet, a slide movable toward and away from said templet and adapted to position string in desired relation to said templet, a movable string guide adapted to position a length of string between said slide and templet, and means operative to move said guide out of the path of said slide as the latter is moved toward said templet.

6. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a support for string, a member reciprocable along said support, means tending to move said member into feeding engagement with said string, and means including a stationary guide rail permitting said member to grip and feed said string as said member is moved in one direction between two predetermined spaced points and for holding said member out of feeding engagement with said string when said member is moved in the opposite direction between said spaced points.

7. In a machine for securing a string handle to a bag, in combination, a support for string, a member reciprocable along said support, means for causing said member to grip and feed said string as said member is moved in one direction and for releasing said string as said member is moved in, the opposite direction, mechanism for cutting said string, and means responsive to the movement of said member for actuating said mechanism subsequent to each feeding operation of said member.

CARLETON G. EATON. ALFRED J. THOMAS. 

